Isabelle Johnson

6/7

November 9, 2016

Social Media is Impacting the World in a Better Way

Social media has many negative opinions, humans are hardwired to think negatively, but the positive

can outweigh the negatives. Social media has changed the world from what it was 100 years ago;it has changed

it into a better world. Society has never been more different in other generations. Communication has never

been easier, global news gets from place to place quickly, and helping others has not been more accessible,

which proves social media is positive.

Communication has never been easier with social media. Nearly 76% of teens use social media, so its

not that bad if a large number of teens use it. Now, others can learn about other cultures and opinions. Which,

would still be possible without the internet, but it would be more costly. Also, about 64% of teens stated that

they have met a new friend online. Talking or video chatting with friends or relatives is now faster and easier

with social media. An average of 75% of people who own a cell phone say that they text. Helping someone

from afar is now easy and simple. People can help others education wise, or with personal problems when they

arent physically by each other. Lastly, 68% of teens have had support on social media while in a challenging

time. People who chat online arent isolating themselves, theyre opening their minds to other crowds around

the world (Lenhart, Pew Research Centers).

Global news is one of the most popular subjects passed around on social media. About 62% of U.S.

adults hear news from social media websites. 44% of adults get the news from one of the biggest social media

websites, Facebook. The good thing about news being on social media is that it spreads extremely fast. For

example, a girl was abducted and over 7,200,700 people heard about it, only six hours after it happened. Global

news is slowly evolving into the digital world; in fact, 38% of adults read or hear the news online. By utilizing

social media, a single news story can be seen on a website containing thousands of users around the world
regardless of their location (Life as of Late, Matsa, Holcomb, Rosenburg).

Online charities are a big part of social media; you can always find one going on. Online charities are

becoming even easier, now anyone can just give by sending a single text. Over $2 million was raised for the

earthquake in Haiti in only 24 hours, via text. However, in 2007, online gifting was being used at about 28%,

that was just in 2007. Online charities are growing. Here are thousands of websites to donate, Go Fund Me,

Project Cure, Feeding America, and many more. About 94% of Americans donate to charities, or give their time

to charities. Social media has made helping others as easy as pressing a single button ( Barry, Charitable

Giving, @TaylorLCorrado, Storm).

Social media is a big part of this world because communication is easy, global news gets around easier,

and helping others can now be simple and easy. However, some experts argue that social media is too

distracting. 12% of students text, email, or do other non-school related activities 30 times a day. This is a real

problem students are dealing with, but there are plenty of strategies to not bring a phone to a class and get

distracted. Students can turn their phone off, leave it in their lockers, or just not even bring the phone to school.

Social media is something that 76% of teens around the world use to talk,hear about news going on, and lots

more. Social media is getting a bad rep, mainly because others are letting slowly take over their lives. Social

media is something that needs to be used in the right way, then everyone can all be happy (Schaffhauser).
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